Apparatus for manufacturing taper tubing



y 20, 1952 H. F. mas ETAL 2,597,623

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TAPER TUBING Filed Oct. 31, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I1. E1. E

(75 [7 7 8| /4\ 7 82 m \04 O 6 B6 84 i g; 67 66 I65 94 o 7| I4 95 r 4 -75 l i JNVENTOR.

HERBERT E Dues FRED N. BLACKMORE 4,5 \04 BY I May 20, 1952 H. F. DiES ETAL APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TAPER TUBING Filed Oct. 31, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 us no Mao l35 INVENTORS.

F DIES RED N. BLACKMORE ATTORNEV HEABERT F' tapered mandrel.

Patented May 20, 1952 APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURIN TAPER TUBING Herbert F. Dies, Detroit, and Fred N. Blackmore, Ferndale, Mich, assignors to Hurd Lock and Manufacturing Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application October 31, 1947, Serial No. 783,420

2 Claims. (01. 2053) The present invention relates to an appa- I ratus for manufacturing tapered tubing and has for its, primary objects:

To provide an apparatus for carrying out the present invention and which may be readily adjusted for tapering tubing of different cross sectional shapes and sizes, and which may also be readily adapted and controlled to provide a uniform taper or a desired variable taper along the length of the tube being tapered; and

To provide an apparatus which is particularly but not exclusively adapted to the economical manufacture of fishing poles by mass production methods.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying draw- ,ings forming a partof this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

' Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, partially sectioned, semi-schematic plan view of a tube tapering apparatus embodying the present invention, shown in connection with a diagrammatic plan of the hydraulic circuits employed therewith. V Fig. 2 is essentially; an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section through the tapering die,

' taken at the level of the tube being tapered thereby. 1 I y r Fig. 3 is essentially a fragmentary enlargement of the section shown in Fig. 2, showing details of the tapering die inoperation with a Fig. 4 is essentially a section through the tapering die detent mechanism taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is essentially a fragmentary enlarged section taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 5--5 of Fig. 2, showing a fragmentary elevation of the accelerator cam. T

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the 'deailsof construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

'Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purber, which may be an annulus of a malleable metal such as soft iron, copper, aluminum, or the like, although rubber and various plastic materials are also suitably employed. It will-be apparent from thefollowing that a wide range of suitable materials will readily suggest themselves" to those skilled in the arts of metal working for use as the deformable tube constricting member. As the tube to'b e tapered is drawn through the aperture of the deformable tube constricting member, the latter is simultaneouslj compressed around the tube'so as to constrict and effecta gradual taper to the tube.

' In 'the' tapering of long lengths of tubing, it is usually preferableto. carry out the process in a number of steps. Thus, after'the tube has been tapered for a convenient length depending upon the size of the tube and the rate of the taper, the constricting member is replaced by a similar, undeformed constricting member having an initial aperture essentially the same size as the constricted aperture of, the deformed member being replaced. Upon replacement of each deformed tube constricting member, the tapering process briefly outlined above is continued along the tubefrom the point of cessation of the succeeding tapering operation so as to effect a continuous taper without a noticeable break. A tapered mandrel may be employed,

generally by the numeral Ill, within which the die holder, indicated. generally by the numeral I I, is slidably mounted. -A tubular tube guide I2, Fig. '2, extends longitudinally through a portion of the housing If} .and guides the tube I3 to be tapered to the tapering die within the die holder II-. .The tube I3 is gripped by the jaws of the chuck I4 and is drawn from left toright in Figs. 1; and 2 through the tapering die, so that the large end of thertube I3 is at the right and the taper progresses tothe left as. the tube I3 is drawn through ;the tapering die. The chuck I4 is secured to the-end of the shaft. I5 which is slidably mounted within the cylindrical opening I6 of the plunger I! of the hydraulic ram I8. The limits of the sliding movement of the shaft I5 are determined by the pin I9 which extends through the shaft I5 and is slidable 'within the movement limiting slot 20 at the leftward portion of the plunger H. The shaft I5 is resiliently forced to the left in Fig. 1 by invention are not described herein since these:

are well known to the art, and other hydraulic systems may be readily employed to' achieve-the I results of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof? The electric motor 22 is operativelycoupled with the double hydraulic'pump23' by means of the rotatable drive shaft 25. The pump 23 draws hydraulic fiuid from the reservoir 26=through the intake duct 21 and discharges the fluid under pressure through the discharge duct 28." Like wise, the pump 23 draws fluid from the reservoir 26 through the intake duct 29 and-discharges it under pressure through the duct 30.- Independently adjustablepressure regulating valves-3i and 32 are provided within the'ducts 28*and 38, respectively; The-duct 30 communicates with the electric solenoidoperatedfour-way valve 35, which maybe selectively operated to connect the hydraulic pressure of duct 38' with the'duct 36 leading to the compression mechanism of the tapering die, or'to by-pass the duct-38' by connecting the duct 30 with'the'return duct 31, via the connector duct 31A, and simultaneously to releasethe pressure in duct '36 via the connector duct 31B into the-return duct'3l; wh ch latter communicates with the reservoir 26.

The duct 28communicates withan electric solenoid operated four-way valve 38, which may be selectively operated to'connect the hydraulic pressureof duct 28"with theleftor drawing end of the hydraulic ram l8 by the duct 39', or to the right or return end of the ram l8 through the duct '40. When hydraulic pressure is supplied to the drawing end of the ram l8 through the duct 39, the plunger l1 and connected shaft [5 and chuck I4 are drawn to the right in Fig. 1, and the tube [3 is drawn through the tapering die. The rate at which the tube I3 is drawn through the tapering die is precisely controlled by the adjustable control valve 4 I, connected with the duct 39 by the duct 42 so as to providean adjustable by-pass for ram. l8.-

The more valve 4l-is opened, the: greater will be the effective by-pass of the ram I8 by bydraulic fluid through duct 42 and into the return duct 31 via the connector duct--31C.' Correspondingly, the slower will the ram I8 be actuated to draw the-tube I3 through the tapering die. In addition to selectively supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure from-duct 28 to one of said ducts 39 or 40, the valve 38 simultaneously connects theother of-said ducts 39 or-dfl to the discharge duct 3! Via the connector duct 31D. Thus as hydraulic pressure is supplied'to one side of the piston 43', the hydraulic pressure on the other side of the piston 43 is released to the reservoir- 26. In order to assure that the pressure in the duct36 has reached a predetermined minimum value required to initiate the deformation of the tapering die before the ram -I8' is actuated to draw'the tube-13 through the die. a pressure switch 44 is provided in the line 36. The switch 44 is electrically connected with the solenoidal valv'e Bil-for actuation thereof, so as to cause the plunger ll to be moved to the right 4 when the said predetermined pressure is developed in line 36.

Other general features of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 include the electrical limit switch 45 mounted on the slidable plunger support 49, which is securedv to the end olathe plunger IT for movement therewith and is slidablysupported at its opposite ends by the slideways 52 and 53. If for any reason the tube [3 should jam within the tapering die while moving leftward, the shock will-be absorbed by compression of the spring 2|. The pin I9 will contact the spring pressed button 54,"norrna1ly resiliently held to the left by the spring 55,- and trip the limit switch 46 so as to actuate the valve 38 and stop the movement of the'said plunger 1'! to the left. In the present .instance, the plunger arm l1 extends completely through the cylinder heads 56 and 57, which receive the hydraulic ducts 39 and 40, respectively, at the opposite sides of the piston 43. The piston 43' is secured to the plunger I! for actuation thereof in response to-the direction of the hydraulic flow in the ducts Hand 40; The entire apparatus, including the slide supports 52 and-53, is supported-on opposite sides by the load supporting channel beams 58 and 58'.

When a long length of tubing is to be tapered, requiring a series of taperingoperations as outlined above, the 'length of the draw for each tapering operation is predetermined and maintained essentially uniform by a series of limit switches adjustably spaced longitudinally of the plunger I1 at distances' equal to the desired lengths of taper to be achieved during each successive tapering operation; A cam means'is'adjustably secured to a portion of the plunger apparatus for moving with the plunger l1 and is adapted for adjustment so as to selectively contact andtrip one of the longitudinally spaced limit switches. The-limit switches are operatively connected electrically with the solenoid operated valve 35 for actuation thereof -so as to release the hydraulic pressure in 'the duct 36 to the reservoir 26' via ducts 31B and 31.

Atthe beginning of a tapering operation, the cam means for tripping the limit switches is adjusted'for tripping'the first limit switch in the series as the plunger I! moves from left to right during the "tapering operation. Similarly, the first limit switch in the series is selectively adjusted longitudinally of the movement o1 the plunger l1 and secured at a position whereat it will be tripped when the tapering process has progressed for such a length along the tube I 3 that'an essentially uniformly tapered pitch is no longer practicable. Thus'when the. tube 13 is moved 'to therightthrough the tapering die for such a distance that a uniform taper is no longer practicable, the first limit switch in the series will be tripped and the solenoidal valve 35 will accordingly be actuated torelease the pressure on the tapering die, preventing continued tapering of the tube I3.

The second tapering operation will commence at the small end of the taper which was produced "during the preceding tapering operation. For the second tapering operation, the limit switch'contacting cam is adjusted so as not to trip the first limit switch in the series, but to trip the second limit switch in the series spaced at a distance to the right of the first limitswitch equal to the desired length of taper to be achieved in the second tapering operation.

Various jarrangements of a series of limit switches and of the limit switch contacting cams may beprov'ided for tripping each succeeding limit switch in the series in its turn when each succeedingtapering operation has progressed for a desired predetermined extent. Accordingly, the particular formand arrangement of the series of limit switches 60 and limit, switch contacting cams 62 shown in the drawing, Fig. 1, are not essential to the present invention and are shown merely by way of example. 7

The series of limit switches 60, difierentiated by the letters A, B, and C, extend upright from their respective horizontal supporting brackets SI, correspondingly differentiatedby the letters A, B, and C. The brackets 6| are of graded lengths and are preferably slidably adjustable longitudinally of th slide member 52, to which they-are secured in their-adjusted positions.

I The pivotally movable cam arms B2-,difierentiated'by the letters as; C, and D, are projected radially for graded distances from a central hub 50, pivotally secured to the'cross bar 49 for rotation about a vertical pivota'xis. By-selectively rotating the cam arms 62, one of them will be selectively extended perpendicularly to the slide 52 for tripping a corresponding limit switch 60 as the plunger I'I- moves from left-to right during a tapering operation. a

By the arrangement shown, the longest cam arm 62A is adapted to contact and trip the first limit switch 60A at the left of'the series. The shorter cam arm 62B-is adapted to miss the limit switch 60A, but to trip thelimit switch 603. Similarly, each successivelyshorter cam arm 62 is adapted to contact and trip the corresponding limit switch 60 on the successively shorter brackets GI, but to miss the preceding limit'switches 60 on the longer brackets 6 I. Three limit switches 60 and four cam arms 62 are shown in the present illustration. It is apparent that a greater number of limit switches 60 and cam arms 62 will be employed where required.

As the plunger I1 is hydraulically moved to the right, and one of the switches 60 is tripped by its corresponding cam arm 62, the solenoidal valve 35 is actuated to release the pressure in the duct 36 to the return duct 31 via the'connector duct 31B, and thereby to stop the compression stroke on the tapering die. Upon continued movement of the plunger H to the right, the tube I3, which has been tapered for a portion of its length, is drawn through the die and uniformly reduced in diameter for the remainder of its length to the diameter of the small end of the taper whereat the compression stroke on the tapering die ceased. Upon the continued movement of the plunger I1 to the right after the compression stroke has ceased, the cam arm 62, which tripped its corresponding limit switch 60 and thereby stopped the tapering action, will contact the succeeding limit switches 60 in the series. However, no action will result since the compression stroke on the tapering die has already been stopped.

Fig. 2 shows a section through the tapering die, with a tube I3 to be tapered extending through the tapering die and the tubular tube guide I2. The tube guide I2 has the enlarged head 63 slidably mounted concentrically within the cylindrical opening 84 of the housing II). A cylindrical opening 65, concentric with the tube guide l2, extends into the housing ID from the opening 64 and is provided for the slidable tubular plunger 56. Also within the housing I and communicating with the opening 65 is the longitudinal opening 61 for the slidably movable die holder II. The die holder II comprises the lon gitudinal compression chamber housing 68 and the longitudinalbase plate 69, which are secured to each other at opposite ends by .the screws Ill, Fig. 4; I I The longitudinal compression chamber housing 68 carries the plurality of spaced cylindrileads to the exterior of. the housing 1-0.

any one of the cylindrical chambers II in concentricity with the tube guide I2 and with the corresponding-tapered opening I3 concentric with and fiaringoutward to communicate with the small end of the funnel-shaped openin 9 ,L i At the right, .Fig. 2.

a Thus :a continuous passage betweenethe 'tube guide. I2 and thejaws of the chuck I' l-maybe aligned for the tube .I3. 1

The annular plunger 66 provides the enlarged flange head H which is counterbored within the tube, guide head 63 and secured thereto .by the plurality of bolts I5, Fig. 3.. I The head 631 is spring pressed tothe left in Fig. 2 by the plurality of springs I6 .under compression between the housing I0 and the baseof the cylindrical springguide holes 1'! provided by the. head .63. Around the peripheryof the head-63,.opposite the springs 16., is the ring of ;packing 18,.held in place by the retaining ring- 'Illwhich is secured to the head 63 aroundthe tube guide I2 by'the plurality tube guide I2 is slidably mounted. The. collar 82 limits the leftward movement i of'the .head

63 by contact between theretaining ring 19 and the annular boss 83. The boss 83 ,projects from the collar 82 around the tube guide 12 and provides the inner boundary for the annularchamber fig The collar 82 alsoprovides the oil duct 85 which communicates between the annular chamber 84 and the hydraulicjluid-duct,36. An oil packing gland B6 is provided within the. collar 82 aroundthe tube guide I2'for the; chevron packing BjI which is heldin place by the annular capping plate BB. The capping .platelBll is secured to the collar82 by the plurality of-bolts Biland is keyed by the key to the tube guide I2 to prevent rotation of the latter. l r The leftward end of the tube guide 12 projects through the capping plate 88, and provides the left hand screw-threaded portion '95 in screw driven engagementwith the internally threaded control member 96 having the laterally extending arm fl'l. Ihe outer extremityof the arm Q'Iprovides the cam follower roller pin 98 within the diagonally extending cam groove 99 provided by the cam arm I09, Rig. 5. The cam arm It!) is secured to the collar 82 by the plurality ofscrews I'IlI so, that. upon forward motion (to the right f in Figs2 and 5)- of the tube guide I2, the guided movement of the screw driven control member 35 efiected'by the cam groove 99, permitsthe tube guide 'I2 to be drivenforwardat a controlled rate. By virtue of this construction it can be seen that a controlled, rapid movement maybe obtained due to the shape "of the cam;

as an extension ofplunger I'I which ismovable within the cylindrical chamberII and abutted-by the plunger'IiIi forcompressionmovement to the right.

Theradialcross section of the deformable annulus I05, i. e., taken in a plane perpendicular to i the circumferencemay suitably be one of numerous: shapes, such. as rectangular: or polygonal. For tapering relatively large sized tubing, we have found by experiment'that a somewhat tapered or wedge-shaped radiallicross. section is preferable, Fig. 3. The sides of the pressure resisting. ring I04 and compressing ringI06l adjacent oppositesides of the deformable. annulus I05 arechamfered or otherwise shaped to'conform. to

the initial shape of. the deformable. annulus I05..

From the structure shown, it becomes apparent that as hydraulic fluid is introduced under pressureinto the chamber 84, the. head 63..is driven forward (to the right) driving the plungers 66 and IM forward and compressing .the deformableannulus I05 betweenthe pressure resisting ring. I04 and compressing ring I06. The tube I3 is thus constricted by deformation of the annulus I05. If during the process of deforming theannulusI05, the tube I'3 is simultaneously moved forward through the annulus I05,'the tube I3 will be tapered from right-to left. The use of a tapered mandrel I03 to support the interior wall of thetube I3 and to guide and limit'the taper is optional, being largely influenced by the alloy,

size, and wall'thickness of the tube I3.

Although in thepresent instance the tapering die comprising the pressure resisting ring I04, the deformable annulus I05, andthe compressing ring I06 are designed for effecting a taper of circular cross section to a tube, it is apparent that tapers of polygonal or irregular shaped cross sections may also be achieved. For-example, by utilizing a hexagonal deformable tube constricting member in place of the annulus I05, and corrings I04 and I06, a tapered tube of hexagonal cross section will be formed.- It is also not essential for the aperture of the deformable tube constricting member to encircle the tube I3 completely. The process of the present invention,

and a slightly modified tapering die, may accordingly be used to taper only a portion of the circumference of the tube. Thusthe present invention provides a method and means for manufacturing tapered tubing in-various cross sectional shapes other than circular.

Obviously after the tapering process progresses to the extent that the tube I3 is constricted toa diameter appreciablysmaller than the diameter of the pressure resisting ring I 04, a tendency develops for the deformable annulus I05 to flow between the constricted tube .I3 and the pressure resisting ring I04. For this reason it is preferred that after the tapering process has operated responding hexagonal members in place of the along a suitable length of the tube I3, further deformation of .the annulus I05 is. prevented. by stopping the forward movement of thecompressing ring I06.

Thereafter, continued movement of the tube I3 to the rightthrough the die uniformly reduces the diameter of thetube I3 for. the remainderrof its length. The deformed annulusv I 05 is thenreplaced within the compression chamber I2 by a similar but non-deformed annulus I05, having an orifice slightly larger than the constricted orifice of the deformed annulus. I 05.-being replaced. The other parts of thertapering die, including the pressure resisting ring I04 and the compressing ring I06 are similarly replaced-by corresponding members of smaller internal diameters adapted for tapering the-uniformly reduced portion of the tube I3.

The uniformly reduced portion ofthe tube I3 .isthen run backward from right to left, through the funnel opening 9|, the tapering die,.and into the tube guide I2, until the small end of the taper which was formed-during the precedingoperation is broughtinto contact with the-new deformable annulus. I05. The tapering process is then continued from the small end of the preceding taper to provide a continuous. and essentially uniform taper without noticeable discontinuity.

In order to effect the ready exchange of one tapering-die with a smaller size, the present invention provides a plurality. of tapering dies similar to those shown inzFigs..2 and3 and arranged according to size in the die holder. I'I,;Figs. l and 4, each die beingvadapted fortapering a tube withina slightly smallerdiameter range than the range suitable .for. the die immediately below. Each die is indicated generally by. one of the letters A through Fig. 4.- The corresponding parts for each die are the same, except for size.

Thestapered base plate opening 13, deformable annulus I05, pressure resisting ring I04, and compressingring I00 for each die have slightly smaller internal diameters thanthe diameters of the corresponding parts in the die immediately below. In the tapering of tubing of relatively small diameters, as for.v example fishing poles of approximately three-eighths inch diameter orless it hasbeen found that a series of tapering dies .will provide a suitable continuous. taper if theinternal-diameters ofthe exchangeable parts of each die are approximatelyone-sixteenthof an inch smaller. than the corresponding parts of the preceding'die; Other diameter ranges will be required to satisfy other conditions;

It. is' to be observed that in the ordinary situation, as in the series'of dies A through F, Fig. 4, theeffective crosssectional area of each annulus I05 in the series. taken in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinalaxls of the tube I3, is preferably the same, regardless of the dimensions of the aperture of the annulus: I 05. Correspondingly the rings IM-and I06 for each die in the series provide the same area of compression contact with their respective annulus I05.. Thus the force applied to the head 63 may be maintained essentially constant throughout the use of the various tapering dies in the-series A through F, and-the .resulting pressure on the opposite faces of the deformable annulus I05 in each case will also remain essentially constant. Otherwise, if each succeeding annulus I05 in the series of dies offered a differentv cross sectional area perpendicular tothe compressing force, the annulus I05 having the smaller cross sectional area would .be subjected to a greater force per unit area and would be compressed more rapidly than the similar'deformable annulus I of larger cross sectional area. Dilficulty would thus be experienced in controlling the rate of the taper. Where it is desired to vary the rate of taper along the length of the tube, the cross sectional areas of the various annuli I06 will be correspondingly varied.

The assembled die holder II provides the detent notches I I6 and is slidably mounted within the opening 61 of the housing I0, which latter is secured to the channel beams 58 and 59 by the plurality of bolts I I9 and I respectively. Within one side of the housing I0 are the recesses I22 and I23 for the detent mechanism, which latter is held in place by the collar or mounting I24 secured to the channel beam 59 by the plurality of bolts I20.

The detent mechanism comprises the upper and lower plunger arms I25 and I26 slidably mounted within the cylindrical openings I21 and I28 respectively of the mounting I24. The internal portions ofthe plunger arms I25 and I23 provide the pin slots I29 and I30 respectively for. the pins I32 and I33 respectively. The pins I32 and I33 are slidable within their respective slots I29 and I30 and are secured at their opposite ends within the thimbles I34 and I35 respectively, which latter provide the detent tips I36 and I3! respectively for selectively engaging the detentnotches H6 and aligning the various tapering dies A through Fin turn with the tubular opening of the tube guideIZ and funnelshaped opening 9I. Within the recesses I22 and I23and around the respective plunger arms I25 and I26 .are the coil springs I39 and I39 which are under compression between the thimbles I34 and I35 respectively and the body of the mounting I24 to force the thimbles I34 and I35 to the right against the adjacent side of die holder II.

Reciprocating movement of the plunger arms I25 and I26 is. effected by pivoting the operating lever I42, which is pivotally connected to the exterior. endsnof the arms I25 and. I26 by the pivots I43 and I44 respectively. The operating lever I42 is also pivotally connected at I45, between the pivots I43 and I44, to the projecting support I46 which is secured to the mounting I24 by the plurality of screws I41. Adjusting lock nuts I49 and I49 are screw-threaded on the plunger arms I25 and I26 respectively to permit adjustment of the limit of movement of the plunger arms I25 and I26.

In operation of the apparatus disclosed herein, the tube E3 to be tapered is inserted into the tube guide I2 from either end through a tapering die of properly selected size until the portion of the tube I 3 at which the taper is to begin is located within the deformable tube constricting member, i. e., the annulus I05 in the present instance. The portion of the tube I3 which extends forward, i. e., to the right of the funnelshaped opening 9|, is clamped by the jaws of the'chuck I4. The brackets SI for the limit switches 69A .are suitably spaced along and immovably secured to theslide 52 in accordance with the desired predetermined length of draw fdrlth'e' successive tapering operations, and the cam arm 62A is rotated to extend perpendicularly to the slide 52, i. e., to the position occupied by the arm 62C in Fig. 1.

The hydraulic pump motor 22 is then started and pressure is supplied to valves 35 and 33. By an electrical control circuit, not shown, the solenoidal actuated valve 35 is operated to deliver hydraulic pressure into the hydraulic pressure chamber 84 via the ducts 3 0 and 36. When pressure within the line 36 reaches the predetermined value at which constriction of the annulus I05 begins, the pressure switch 44 is tripped and the solenoidal actuated valve 36, electrically connected With the Switch 44, is operated to deliver hydraulic fiuid under pressure into the left end of the ram I8 via the ducts 28 and 39, and to connect the duct 40 with the drain 3! via duct 31]). Accordingly, the plunger I? is moved to the right and the tube I3 is drawn through the tapering die.

Simultaneously, the head 63 is gradually driven to the right, Fig. 2, forcing the plunger 66 against the plunger I01 and compressing the annulus I between the pressure resisting ring I04 and compressing ring I06 within the cylindrical compression chamber 12. Radial enlargement of the annulus I05 is prevented by the side walls of the compression chamber 12. As the annulus I95 is compressed, it is permitted to fiow in one way only. The aperture thereof is consequently constricted around the tube I3, and the latter is correspondingly constricted and tapered as it is drawn through the tapering die. The pitch of the taper is readily controlled by the feed control valve 4| which determines the rate of drawing the tube I3 through the die.

As the tapering process progresses to the extent that the external diameter of the tube I 3 becomes appreciably smaller than the internal diameter of the pressure resisting ring I94, the annulus I 05 tends to flow between the tube I3 and ring I04, with the result that the rate of constriction of the tube I3 decreases andthe pitch of, the taper decreases. This result may be partially offset by the provision of the control member 96 which is adapted, by virtue of the cam follower 98 within the cam groove 99, to rotate upon movement of tube guide I2 to the right. Rotation of the control member 96 permits the tube guide I2 to be driven, and consequently the head 63 and other parts of the compression mechanism, to the right at a controlled rate by reason of the screw driving engagement between these members and between the cam follower 98 and cam groove 99, thereby deforming the annulus I05 at a controlled rate. This may be an accelerated rate merely by shaping the cam groove so that there will be less restraining of the contol member 96 as it is rotated due to movement to the right of the guide tube I2. By proper selection and disposition of the cam groove 99, the acceleration of the compression stroke may be adapted to compensate tor the flow of the annulus I95 between the tube I3 and ring I04, so as to extend the serviceability of the annulus I05 and to achieve a uniform taper pitch throughout a greater period of the compression stroke than would otherwise be possible.

When the tapering process has progressed for.

such a length along the tube I3 that the diameter thereof is reduced to the extent that an essentially uniformtaper pitch is no longerpractieable', the limitswitch 69A is trippedby contact;;with =,the camarm 62A. :The valve 35 is thereby actuated to stop further compression of the annulus I05 and to direct the hydraulic fluid of ducts 30 and 36 to the reservoir 26 via the discharge ducts 31, 37A, and 31B. Meanwhile the movement of the tube I3 continues to the right until the untapered portion thereof is drawn through the ide and is uniformly reduced to the same diameter as the small end of the 1T taper. The solenoidal valve 38 is then actuated by an electrical control circuit, not shown, to bypass the cylinder I8 and to direct the'pressure of duct 28 to the return duct 31 via duct 37D. The'movement of tube I3 thus stops. 7

The next smaller tapering die B in the series A through F is then indexed in alignment with thetube guide I2 by pullingthe lever "42 to the left in Fig. 4. The detent tip I36 is withdrawn from the notch II6, allowing the die holder 'II to drop until the spring pressed detent tip I3'I engages the same notch IIB which was formerly engaged by the tip I36. In connection with the detent mechanism, it is to be observed'that the spacing between the notches H6 is double the spacing between the various tapering dies in the series A through F. Accordingly, only one-half as many notches I I6 are required as there are dies. After the lower notch IIB hasbeen engaged by the detent tip I31, the next indexing is effected by pivoting the lever I 12 to the right in Fig. 4. The tip I31 is withdrawn from the lower notch IIS, permitting the die holder II to drop until the second notch IIG from the bottom engages the detent tip I36, thereby indexing the die C at the operative position. Each pivotal movement'of the lever I42'releases'on'e die from the indexed position and permits'the next higher and smaller die to drop into the indexed position.

Upon indexing the next smaller tapering die in alignment with the tube guide I2, the reduced tube I3, still within the jaws of the chuck I4, is reinserted into the funnel-shaped opening BI. The valve 38 is actuated to connect the duct 4%? with the pressure of duct 28, and to connect the duct39 to the return duct 31, thereby driving the plunger I I and its attached slidable support 49' to the leftand driving the reduced portion of the tube I3 through the next smaller tapering die; When the small end of the tapered portion of the tube I3, which was formed in the preceding tapering operation, reaches the new deformable annulus I 05, continued leftward movement of the tube I3 is'blocked. The shock is absorbed by the coil spring 2| which protects the tube I3 from buckling. As the spring 2| "is compressed, the pin I9 contacts the button 54 and trips the limit switch 46, stopping the leftward movement of the plunger I! at the proper position for proceeding' with the next tapering operation. The cam arm 62B is now rotated to the limit switch contacting position, so that upon movement of the plunger I! to the right during the next taper: ing operation, the arm 62B will contact the limit switch '60B and stop the constriction of the second deformable annulus I when the second tapering operation has progressed along the length of thetube I3 for the predetermined practicable distance. -The above outlined process is repeated one or more times until the desired-overall le'ngth of taper is'achieved.

' The hydraulic pressure system utilized with the present invention provides a readilycontrolled means for supplying pressure to the 'deformable annulus' I05 and for controlling the rate of drawing the tube I3 through the tapering die,

or for reinserting the uniformly reduced tube I3 into the'tapering die after a deformed annulus I05 has been replaced by the next smaller size. However, it is to be observed that other methods will suggest themselves to the skilled mechanic for supplying pressure to the deformable annulus I05 or for controlling the movement of the tube I3 without departing'from-the spirit of the present invention.

Having thus 'describedour invention, we claim: 1. In an apparatus for tapering tubes, the combination of a housing having an aperture therethrough for receiving the tube to be tapered, a die holder slidably mounted in said housing, a tapering die mounted in the die holder, said tapering die being a deformable tube constricting member having an aperture for receiving said tube, means for indexing said die holder relative to said aperture in said housing for aligning the latter with said tapering die, means to draw a tube to be tapered through said tapering die aligned with the aperture in said housing, a compression chamber having pressure resisting walls adjacent the outer periphery and one side of said deformable tube constricting member, a compressing member adjacent the other side of said tube constricting member, and means for actuating concurrently said compressing member and said means to draw the tube.

In an apparatusfor tapering tubes, the combination of a housing having an aperture therethrough for receiving the tube to be tapered, a die holder lidably mounted in said housing, tapering dies mounted in said die holder, detent means for indexing said die holder relative to said aperture in said housing'for aligning the latter with one of the'tapering dies, means to draw a tube tobe tapered through the tapering die aligned withthe aperture in said housing, each of said tapering dies being a deformable tube constricting member havingan aperture for receiving said tube, a compression chamber having pressure resisting walls adjacent the outer periphery and one side of said deformable tube constricting member and a movable compression member adjacent the other side of said tube constricting member.

HERBERT F. DIES. FRED N. BLACKMORE.

'* REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 252,423 Buckingham Jan. 17, 1882 326,097 Blake Sept. 15, 1885 1,912,751 Batcheller June 6, 1933 2,036,206 Ernst Apr. '7, 1936 2,309,637 Fickett Feb. 2, 1943 2,360,528 Talmadge Oct. 17, 1944 2,367,492 Fickett Jan. 16, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 464,923 Great Britain Apr. 28, 1937 

